Who can become a sensation of the Ukrainian Cup: forecast by Yuriy Saka
Yesterday, August 20, the match "Dinaz" - "Phoenix-Mariupol" (0:6) started the 1/32 finals stage of the Ukrainian Cup. Matches of this stage will take place over four days. It is worth noting that 12 representatives of the UPL will play now ("Shakhtar", LNZ, "Polissya" and "Dynamo", who, as participants in European competitions, will start their performances from the 1/16 stage).
About how events may unfold in this tournament in the coming days, the website Sport.ua exclusively told the winner of this trophy in 1992 as part of "Chornomorets" Yuriy Sak.
- Yuriy Mykolayovych, cup matches are often characterized by their unpredictability. Can we expect something similar at the 1/32 stage?
- Without a doubt. And here I expect the most surprises from amateurs who will face teams from the Second and First leagues. For them, it is prestigious to beat a professional team.
- At this stage, 12 representatives of the UPL join the battle. In your opinion, who among them will have the most difficult time?
- I believe that everyone will find it difficult because any opponent can gather for one match. Again, unexpected outcomes can be expected in these pairs. The central match of this stage will take place in Lviv, where "Karpaty" and "Obolon" will meet.
- Does "Obolon" have a good chance, considering the excellent start of "Karpaty" in the Premier League?
- Of course, it does. And I wouldn't say that the hosts are the clear favorites here. After all, it is necessary to understand what priorities each team puts first. Yes, Fran Fernandes' wards have achieved three confident victories in the championship, but at the same time, "Obolon" has not conceded in the last two matches. This is the Cup, anything can happen here.
- The Ukrainian Cup is, relatively, the fastest way to break into European competitions. Do teams like "Kharkiv", "Zorya", "Kryvbas", "Karpaty" have this in mind?
- I think so. Maybe not all, but some definitely do (smiles). If after a defeat in the championship, everything can still be corrected, then in the country's Cup - no, everything is decided here and now. Remember the last draw. Could anyone have predicted that "Chernihiv" would reach the final? No, of course not. So let's see in what line-ups the elite representatives will perform and with what mood they will play against their opponents.
- In your opinion, who in the current draw could disrupt the peace among teams from lower leagues?
- I have a feeling that some amateur teams could do that.
- For example?
- I don't know how far they will go, but I will carefully watch how teams like "Kolos" (Polonne) and "Pokuttia" (Kolomyia) will play.
- Will the confrontation between "Oleksandriya" and the leader of the Second League Group A "Bratslav" be interesting?
- Of course. This is a principled confrontation if only because "Bratslav" is led by Yuriy Hura, who was once the head coach of the Oleksandriya team. Both opponents are on the rise, so it will also not be easy to determine the strongest here.
